Figure 1.-- Here we see Princes William and Ricard with their mother. The boys wear blouses with button-on short pants. Thevportrait would have been aken about 1947.

The Duke and Duchess had two sons, Prince William of Gloucester (1941-1972) and Prince Richard of Gloucester (1944- ). Richard was born at Northampton, he was christened Richard Alexander Walter George. The boys went to Australia, where for 2 years (1945-47) their father was Governor-General. We do not know a great deal about their clothing. As they were relatively close in age they were dressed similarly. Prince William and Prince Richard when they were young wore kilts in public more often than not. For ofrmal occasions they commonly wore them with white ankle socks and formal patent leather strap shoes. We note them wearing white anklets rather than white knee socks. AS pre-school boys they wore blouses, short pants, white anklets and strap shoes. Prince William died in a tragic airplane crash without a heir. As a result, Richard is now the Duke of Gloucester. He succeeded his father in June 1974.

Clothing

We do not know a great deal about their clothing. As they were relatively close in age they were dressed similarly. Prince William and Prince Richard when they were young wore kilts in public more often than not. For ofrmal occasions they commonly wore them with white ankle socks and formal patent leather strap shoes. We note them wearing white anklets rather than white knee socks. As pre-school boys they wore blouses, short pants, white anklets and strap shoes. As a slightly older boy, William he wore regulr shirts and shorts along wih open-oe sandals. he first time we notice British royals dressed so informlly, perhaps reflecting his time in Australia.

Prince William (1941-72)

Prince William of Gloucester (William Henry Andrew Frederick) was born at Hadley Common, Hertfordshire.(1941), just after the Blitz. He was the elder son of Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester, and Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester and a grandson of George V, nephew of Edward VIII and George VI. At birth he was fourth in line to the throne after his three older brothers. He was baptised in the Private Chapel at Windsor Castle Cosmo Gordon Lang, Archbishop of Canterbury (1942) Due to war-ime censorship, newspapers only reported that tyhe christening took place at 'a private chapel in the country'. His father served actvely in te services during the War enailing some risk. KIng George VI wrote to William's moher promising that if anything should happen to her husband he would become Prince William's guardian. his was no nidle matter. One of William's uncles was klled in the War. Prince William was a page boy for his cousin Princess Elizabeth at her wedding to Philip, Duke of Edinburgh (1947). The other page boy was Prince Michael of Kent. He he attended the coronation of Elizabeth II (1953). Prince William grew up at Barnwell Manor in Northamptonshire during the War years. And then moved to Australia wih his parents where his father served as Governor-General (1945-47). His would have bee a complicate posting. Because of the War and Britan's inabiliy o defend Australia, the country's relationship to Britain was sifbificanly altered. William was educated at Wellesley House School, a prep school at Broadstairs in Kent, and hen for secondary school attended Eton College. He excelled at both cricket and football (rugby). After leaving Eton he went up to Magdalene College, Cambridge (1960). He read read history, the British term for major. He graduating with a BA degree (1963) and than a MA at Cambridge (1968). He did a post-baccalaureate year in America at Stanford University, studying political science, American history, and business. He then joined the Foreign and Commonwealth Office assigned to Lagos and Tokyo. Because of his father's failing health, he retuned to Britain pursue his royal duties (1970). He enjoyed a very active life. He especially enjoyed flying. Other active pursuits included trekking through the Sahara and hot air ballooning. Like his royal ancestor George III, he suffered from porphyria, presumably hereditary. The Duke died in a tragic air crash while flying in a competition.

Prince Richard (1944- )

Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester (Richard Alexander Walter George was born at St Matthew's Nursing Home in Northampton during World War II (1944). He was the second son of Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester, and Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester. Richard was the youngest of the nine grandchildren of King George V. Richard was baptised at the Royal Chapel of All Saints in Windsor Great Park by the retired Archbishop of Canterbury, Cosmo Gordon Lang (1944). Because of the War, newspapers did not identify the precise location of the christening, reporting only that it took place at 'a private chapel in the country'. He was only 4 months old, when he family moved to Australi becuse of his father's appointmenb as governor-general from (1945-47). The family hen returned to Barnwell Manor where Richard spent most of his childhood (1947). Prince Richard wasutored at home by Rosalind Ramirez, who had also tutored King Faisal II of Iraq. He then ike his broher attended Wellesley House School at Broadstairs and Eton College. He matriculated at Magdalene College, Cambridge, where he read architecture (1963). He graduating with a BA (1966). And finally earmed a MA at Cambridge (1971). Richard practised as an architect until the death of his elder brother, William, placed him in direct line to inherit his father's dukedom of Gloucester, to which he succeeded (1974). He married Birgitte van Deurs Henriksen on (1972). They have three children.

Created: 8:25 PM 8/7/2004
Last Updated: 6:50 AM 10/2/2009